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Coronavirus Case Increase Sets New U.S. Record As Hospitalizations Soar

Health Care Professionals Work On The Frontlines Of COVID-19 Pandemic In Maryland Hospital

The United States set a new record for the number of daily coronavirus cases on Thursday (October 22). According to a tally by NBC News, there were 77,640 new cases, breaking the previous record of 75,723 set on July 29. Six states - Colorado, Indiana, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah - all reported a new record in daily case counts, while 12 states reported their highest seven-day averages of new daily cases. Those states include Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming.

As more and more people are getting sick, the number of hospitalizations continues to soar. There are more than 41,000 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 across the country, the highest number since late August. The number of hospitalized patients has increased by 33% so far in October. Eight states reported record-high hospitalizations Thursday: Kentucky, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Experts have said that small gatherings and house parties are driving the recent surge in cases. They are concerned that the number of cases will continue to rise as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas. A big concern is college students returning home for the holidays and bringing the virus with them.

The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation warns that the "fall/winter surge has begun" and said that the number of cases will continue to rise going into November and December before peaking in January.

Overall, COVID-19 has killed more than 223,000 people in the United States while infecting almost 8.5 million people.

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